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One would think the nominees and honorees of the 2006 CFDA Fashion Awards would spend the eve of the event resting at home and praying their lucky stars are...

NEW YORK — One would think the nominees and honorees of the 2006 CFDA Fashion Awards would spend the eve of the event resting at home and praying their lucky stars are all aligned for the big night. Not so this year. Almost all of them came out Sunday for a dinner in their honor hosted by Salma Hayek, Nadja Swarovski and Markus Langes Swarovski (Swarovski, as it has for the past five years, is underwriting the 2006 awards).

Cocktails were served on the terrace of Top of the Rock at Rockefeller Center, and the crowd of fashionpeople caught the eye of tourists passing by, who lined up on the deck above to watch the action. “We’re the zoo exhibit,” joked Anna Paquin. “They’re looking at the people partying in captivity.”

Hayek seemed rather taken with the stylish crowd. “I am not a fashion person, and I usually meet movie people, so it’s always nice to see talents from other industries,” she said, looking resplendent in a Swarovski crystal-embellished Narciso Rodriguez gown.

Most nominees didn’t have specific plans to prepare for the awards — bar Kors, that is. “I may touch up my tan,” he said mischievously. Costa just wanted to rest before the gala, still recovering from a party of his own. “I could go to bed right now, I am so exhausted,” he said. “I cooked for 10 people last night.”

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